Multi-protocol charge port for an electric vehicle

Abstract

A method of charging an electric vehicle at a charging station includes electrically connecting the charging station to the vehicle. The charging station may be configured to charge the vehicle using a charging station charge protocol and the vehicle may be configured to receive the charge using a vehicle charge protocol. The vehicle receives a signal indicative of the charging station charge protocol and selects the vehicle charge protocol based on this signal. The vehicle is then charged using the selected vehicle charge protocol. While selecting, the vehicle may select one charge protocol from multiple charge protocols supported by the vehicle to match the charging station charge protocol.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method of conductive charging an electric vehicle at a charging station, the charging station being configured to provide charge to the vehicle using a charging station charge protocol and the vehicle being configured to receive charge from the charging station using a vehicle charge protocol, comprising:
 connecting an electrical connector of the charging station to a charge port of the vehicle, the electrical connector including multiple electrodes that mate with electrodes of the charge port to form multiple contacts that electrically connect the charging station to the vehicle; 
 receiving, at the vehicle, through a first contact of the multiple contacts, a signal indicative of the charging station charge protocol; 
 automatically selecting the vehicle charge protocol to be a first charge protocol if the signal received through the first contact is a first value and selecting the vehicle charge protocol to be a second charge protocol if the signal received through the first contact is a second value different from the first value, wherein the first charge protocol and the second charge protocol are different charge protocols that define conductive charging of the vehicle by providing DC current to the charge port from the charging station; and 
 charging the vehicle using the selected vehicle charge protocol. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein automatically selecting the vehicle charge protocol includes selecting SAE J1772 as the charge protocol if the signal is a voltage of about 1.5 V and selecting a different charge protocol if the signal is a voltage of about 2.08 V. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein connecting an electrical connector of the charging station includes connecting a SAE J1772 connector of the charging station to a SAE J1772 charge port of the vehicle. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein:
 receiving the signal includes receiving a voltage on a proximity detection pin of the SAE J1772 charge port; and 
 automatically selecting the vehicle charge protocol includes selecting (a) SAE J1772 as the charge protocol if the received voltage is about 1.51 V DC, and (b) a different charge protocol if the received voltage is about 2.08 V DC. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein automatically selecting the vehicle charge protocol includes directing a signal from the vehicle to a control pilot pin of the SAE J1772 connector if the different charge protocol is selected. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein charging the vehicle includes directing DC current from the charging station into the electric vehicle. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electric vehicle is a bus. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein automatically selecting the vehicle charge protocol includes selecting a vehicle charge protocol that matches the charging station charge protocol. 
     
     
       9. A method of conductive charging an electric vehicle at a charging station, the charging station being configured to provide charge to the vehicle using a charging station charge protocol and the vehicle being configured to receive charge from the charging station using a vehicle charge protocol, comprising:
 connecting a SAE J1772 connector of the charging station to a SAE J1772 charge port of the vehicle; 
 detecting a voltage on a proximity detection pin of the SAE J1772 connector; 
 selecting SAE J1772 charge protocol as the vehicle charge protocol if the detected voltage on the proximity detection pin of the SAE J1772 connector is a first value and selecting a different charge protocol as the vehicle charge protocol if the detected voltage is a second value different from the first value, wherein the SAE J1772 charge protocol and the different charge protocol are two different charge protocols that define conductive charging of the vehicle by providing DC current to the SAE J1772 charge port from the charging station; and 
 charging the vehicle using the selected vehicle charge protocol. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first value is about 1.5 V and the second value is about 2.08 V. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9 , further including directing a signal from the vehicle to a control pilot pin of the SAE J1772 connector if the different charge protocol is selected. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein charging the vehicle includes initiating flow of energy into the vehicle after detection of the signal from the vehicle. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 9 , further including activating a resistor between two pins of the SAE J1772 charge port if SAE J1772 is selected as the vehicle charge protocol. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein charging the vehicle includes initiating flow of energy into the vehicle after detection of the activated resistor. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the electric vehicle is a bus. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 9 , wherein charging the vehicle includes directing DC current from the charging station into the electric vehicle. 
     
     
       17. A method of conductive charging an electric bus at a charging station, the charging station being configured to provide charge to the bus using a charging station charge protocol and the bus being configured to receive charge from the charging station using a bus charge protocol, comprising:
 connecting a SAE J1772 connector of the charging station to a SAE J1772 charge port of the bus; 
 detecting a voltage on a proximity detection pin of the SAE J1772 connector; 
 selecting SAE J1772 charge protocol as the bus charge protocol if the detected voltage on the proximity detection pin of the SAE J1772 connector is a first value and selecting a different charge protocol as the bus charge protocol if the detected voltage is a second value different from the first value, wherein the SAE J1772 charge protocol and the different charge protocol are two different charge protocols that define conductive charging of the bus by providing DC current to the SAE J1772 charge port from the charging station; 
 activating an indicator after the selecting to indicate that the bus is ready to receive charge from the charging station; and 
 charging the bus using the selected vehicle charge protocol after the indicator is detected. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein activating an indicator includes directing a signal from the vehicle to a control pilot pin of the SAE J1772 connector if the different charge protocol is selected. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 17 , wherein activating an indicator includes activating a resistor between two pins of the SAE J1772 charge port if SAE J1772 is selected as the vehicle charge protocol. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 17 , wherein charging the bus includes directing DC current from the charging station into the bus.